Trump just nominated DOJ official Iris Lan to a lifetime position as a federal judge in southern NY—one of the most powerful district courts in the country. In 2017, she helped remove a prosecutor who opposed Trump’s family separation policy. THREAD:
In 2017, DOJ prosecutor Joshua Stern told colleagues he was “disturbed” by the Trump administration’s separation of children from their parents. He also raised concerns that some children couldn’t be located after being separated from their parents. Iris Lan had him fired. 2/
The Department of Justice has not received much scrutiny for its role in enabling family separation compared to DHS and HHS. But in reality, it was the DOJ helped implement the policy which would break families apart. 3/
As associate deputy attorney general, Iris Lan was instrumental to family separation. She regularly attended White House immigration meetings chaired by Stephen Miller. 4/
Thousands of children were separated from their parents and traumatized because of policies Lan helped administer. Now, despite having no experience as a judge, she’s being nominated to a lifetime position in one of the most prestigious courts in the country. 5/
This judicial nomination is yet another example of this administration’s callousness towards migrant children. If Iris Lan is confirmed by the Senate as a judge, she’ll have power to shape federal law and policy for the rest of her life. 6/
District and federal courts make critical decisions impacting children and families everyday. Lan helped silence somebody who raised moral objections to family separation. Is this who we want protecting our liberties? 7/
Iris Lan can’t be allowed to fill a lifetime seat as a judge where she’ll have power to harm even more families. A vote to confirm Lan is a vote for family separation. @SenGillibrand and @SenSchumer— you have the power to stop this. 8/
We must demand accountability for everyone complicit in family separation. We need judges who believe #FamiliesBelongTogether. /END
